Uma Kanjilal Appointed IGNOU's First Woman Vice Chancellor in Four-Decade History

By: WE staff | Saturday, 26 July 2025

• First woman Vice Chancellor appointed, Uma Kanjilal of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), which was established 40 years ago
• Brings more than 36 years of experience in the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system
• Appointment constitutes a historic milestone for gender representation within leadership at IGNOU

In a historic appointment, Professor Uma Kanjilal has been appointed the first female Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) after four decades of its establishment. With more than 36 years of exemplary service in the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system, Uma comes with long years of academic leadership, digital innovation, and institutional experience to the position. She has been in the role of the Acting Vice Chancellor and was the Pro Vice Chancellor from March 2021 to July 2024.

A professor of Library and Information Science since 2003, Uma is known nationally for her work on e-learning, digital libraries, education and ICT, and multimedia courseware development. She presently heads the Ministry of Education's flagship digital initiatives as the National Coordinator for SWAYAM and SWAYAM PRABHA.

She has been holding several leadership positions at IGNOU, such as Director of the Centre for Online Education, Inter-University Consortium for Technology Enabled Flexible Education, Advanced Centre for Informatics and Innovative Learning, and School of Social Sciences, and University Librarian. Her appointment is an important step towards enhancing digital learning and inclusive education at one of the largest open universities in the world.